Final push for votes as challenger to Hungary’s Orbán scents victory

Final push for votes as challenger to Hungary’s Orbán scents victory

With Hungary’s crucial election approaching, the nation’s leading political figures are intensifying their final push, as Péter Magyar seeks to unseat Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party after 16 years of uninterrupted governance. Magyar, who has been campaigning relentlessly, declared to excited supporters that the race was “at the gates of a two-thirds majority victory. Let’s gear up and push for the last 100m!” Before the speech, he engaged in selfies with the crowd, showcasing his efforts to connect with voters in the final stretch.

Magyar’s last stop will be in Debrecen, Hungary’s second-largest city in the northeast, while Orbán, currently trailing in most polls, will address a rally in Budapest. However, the most significant gathering occurred on Friday night when tens of thousands filled Heroes’ Square and its neighboring streets for an anti-Fidesz concert. Fanni, a first-time voter from a southern village, expressed hope for change, saying, “I feel it in my bones something’s going to change.” Despite her skepticism about Magyar, she acknowledged, “This is our only chance.”

Orbán’s challenge stems from a broad segment of public frustration, concentrated in a single opposition movement led by a former Fidesz insider who defected. His campaign has drawn strength from recent visits, including a two-day stint by US Vice-President JD Vance, and a late Friday pledge from President Donald Trump to bolster Hungary’s economy if Orbán wins. Though the nation’s population is just over 9.6 million, Orbán has positioned himself as a central figure in global politics, aligning with Trump and Russia’s Vladimir Putin while becoming a contentious force for European allies like the EU and Ukraine.

Despite these efforts, Orbán’s lead in polls appears fragile. Some pro-Fidesz pollsters still give him an edge, but a group of “shy” voters may tip the balance. Magyar, however, has gained traction, particularly among young people who see his movement as a path to transformation. “Right now there’s no future for the young in Hungary,” said Laura, a first-time voter in Mosonmagyaróvár, a small northwest town. Her friend Napsugár echoed the sentiment, noting their generation has known only Fidesz governance.

Political analyst Zsuzsanna Végh of the German Marshall Fund highlighted a notable shift: younger voters aged 18-29 are increasingly moving away from Fidesz, with the party securing less than 10% of their support. She emphasized, “What I find very telling is the extent of engagement and mobilisation.” If Magyar secures a parliamentary majority, it could mark the end of Orbán’s era and his policies. Yet, without two-thirds of seats, he may struggle to dismantle Fidesz’s entrenched influence in institutions like the judiciary.

Székesfehérvár, Hungary’s medieval “city of kings” located an hour south of Budapest, remains a stronghold for Fidesz. Orbán’s recent visit there underscored its importance, as he noted it was traditionally a Fidesz seat. A loss here would be a major blow, with a vendor at the local market estimating 90% of attendees were Fidesz supporters. One, a pensioner named Agota, criticized the opposition’s plans to align with the EU, suggesting their strategy might not resonate with all Hungarians.